CALVES FROM BIRTH UNTIL ONE YEAR OLD 3 1 



AVhen the calves have been accustomed to a meal 

 supplement, this should be continued, in most instances, 

 virtually the same. For calves of the beef types reared 

 for breeding, the standard ration given on page 21 will 

 be very suitable. For those intended for slaughter while 

 yet young, a meal ration of corn, oats, and oil meal in 

 the proportions of 4, 2, and I parts, would be quite suit- 

 able. For those of the dairy type, the standard ration 

 referred to above, fed in moderate quantity, will answer, 

 or it may be substituted by the following: Oats 4 parts, 

 shorts I, bran i, and oil meal i. The quantity fed to 

 breeding animals should be limited by the amount of 

 flesh carried and by the cost of producing it. If weaned 

 in the spring, good pasture will furnish ample supply of 

 succulence without anything else, but if weaned in the 

 autumn the aim should be to furnish an ample supply 

 of field roots. In the absence of roots, corn ensilage 

 will probably be the next best substitute. 



When the calves have taken milk from the dams, 

 the weaning of those that have not followed the dams 

 in the pastures may be accomplished with but little or 

 no check to their growth, as, if properly cared for, they 

 have so accustomed themselves to supplementary food 

 as to rely largely upon it, even before the weaning sea- 

 son. The weaning with these may be in a sense gradual: 

 that is, the nursing from the dams may be reduced from 

 twice to once a day for a short time before milk is finally 

 withheld. This will also aid in the gradual drying of 

 the dams. When the calves have run with the dams 

 up to the time of weaning, it is necessary to confine 

 them for a time to accomplish the weaning and also to 

 get them to take supplemental grain food. While it 

 would not be impossible to wean them gradually as 

 just described, it would not be easy to do this, as such 

 calves are wild and intractable compared with the 

 former. Before these take freely to supplemental meal, 

 they will almost certainly lose more or less flesh. The 



